Holder or press for tennis-rackets and similar articles.



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' taining members which wi l .WILLIAM LILLYWHTE, OF SOUTHAMPTON, NEW YORK.

HOL-DER OR PRESS FOR TENNIS-RACKETS' AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented Gct. 9, 1 906.

.Application filed February l, 1.906. Serial No. 298.920.

useful vImprovements in Holders or Presses for VTennis-Rac kets and Similar Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and com- .plete disclosure.4

yThe object of my invention is to produce a holderv or press Within which articles which are liable to warp and become distorted may b e firmly held when the same are not in use and when Asubjected tovdiiferent conditions A,of moisture and temperature. i

Briefly, my invention comprises a base or body portion, to which is attached a number of clips or retainingmembers., a plurality of which are made adjustable or movable in order that the article to be held may be quickly and easily placed in position upon the holder and so that the holder may be adapted to tennis-rackets or .other articles of different size and shape.

My invention also com rises certain reretain an article placed upon the holder without injury and without defacing the same.

My invention also comprises a certain arrangement whereby the adjustable retaining members may be quickly and easily adjusted.

Forja full, clear, and eXact description of my invention reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanylilng drawings, forming a part thereof, in w c d Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved holder, showing the tennis-racket in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken through the adjustable retaining members. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through one of the iiXed retaining members, and Fig. 4 a transverse sectional view taken through the adjusting devices and one of the retaining members.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a suitable base or bed, to the edge portion of which are attached two symmetrically-'placed retaining members or clips 2. These clips comprise a portion 3, which eX- tends substantially at right angles to the base or bed and carries at its outer end a retaining portion 4, which is inclined at an angle to the base 1 to form a wedge-shaped opening or recess. The inner surface of the retaining portion 4 is provided with a yielding soft covering 5, which prevents the tennis-racket or other article held thereby from being scratched or. otherwise disfigured. Adjustable retaining members 6 are similar in shape to the stationary members 2, but are mounted upon slidable plates 7, which are provided with inclined or dovetailed edges, so as to slide within the dovetailed groove 8. The plates 7 are provided with projecting lugs 9 and 10. These lugs 9 and 10 project through a suitable slot or opening 18 in the base 1 to allow movement with the plates 7,. The lug 9 is provided with a screwthreaded opening to receive the screw portion 11 of the adjusting-bar 12. The lug 10 is provided with a hole or opening 13, through which the adjusting-bar 12 passes, and is also provided with an annular socket 14, which is adapted to receive a flange or collar 15, carried by the bar, and retainingeplate 16 is attached to the lug 10 to hold the collar 15 in position within the socket 14. The adjusting-bar 12 is provided at its outer end, which projects slightly beyond the edge of the base 1, with a thumb-knob or other suitable head 17 for turning the same.

It should be noted that both of the plates 7 are free to slide within the dovetailed groove 8, so that should one of the retaining members be arrested in its movement the other member may then be moved up to the article to be held or clamped upon the holder. The adjusting parts are also provided with a soft or yielding surface which is similar to those of the Xed members 2.

In the use of my improved holder the tennis-racket or other article is first placed upon the base 1, with one end pushed firmly beneath the stationary retaining members 2. The thumb-knob 17 is then turned until the movable retaining members are iirmly clamped and hold the article in close contact with the base 1, thus preventing all warping, twisting, or other distortion of the said article.

lt is obvious that changes may be made in the form and proportions of my improved holder without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention-as, for instance, the number of retaining members may be varied and placed at different positions and the design and shape of the base may also be va lOO ried to correspond with the article to'be held.

The design and proportion of the adjustable retaining members may also be changed, so as to produce the same result and functions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. A holder of the class described, comprising a suitable base, wedge-shaped retaining members carried thereon, and means for drawing a plurality of said wedge-shaped members toward each other.

2. A holder of the class described, comprising a suitable base, stationary retaining members attached thereto, and aplurality of adjustable retaining members slidably mounted on said base, and a thumb-screw members for drawing the same toward each other, all of said retaining members forming, with said base, wedge-shaped sockets for holding the article in position uponsaid base.

5. A holder of the class described, comprising suitable base, and fixed and adjustable retaining members carried thereby, said retaining members comprising portions extending substantially at right angles with said base, and other portions extending at an incline to said base, thereby forming wedgeshaped openings for retaining the article to be held in position upon said base.

6. A holderof the class described, comprising a base conformin substantially to the outline of a tennis-racet, wedge-shaped retaining members carried thereon, and means for drawing a plurality of said wedgeshaped members toward each other, whereby a racket is pressed rmly against the base and attached thereto by one movement.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 27th day of January, 1906. WILLIAM LILLYWHITE. Witnesses:

S. V. COXETTER, L. B. HERRING. 

